Clip module and heat-dissipation apparatus having the same

ABSTRACT

A heat-dissipation apparatus is disclosed. The heat-dissipation apparatus is suitable to dissipate heat generated by a heat source and includes a retention module (RM) around the heat source, a heat sink provided at the heat source, and a clip module. The clip module includes a body, a fastener, and a pressing structure. One end of the body is fastened on the RM, and the heat-sink is pressed on the heat source by the body. The fastener is provided at the other end of the body. One end of the fastener is fastened on the RM, and the pressing structure is pivotally connected to the other end of the fastener along a rotating axis. The pressing structure is suitable to rotate to be fastened at a fixing part of the fastener, so that the body is pressed by the pressing structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan applicationserial no. 96102036, filed on Jan. 19, 2007. The entirety of theabove-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by referenceherein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a clip module and, more particularly, to a clipmodule and a heat-dissipation apparatus having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, with the rapid development of the science andtechnology, various electronic components such as chipsets have more andmore transistors. Therefore, working temperature of electroniccomponents becomes higher and higher. The heat dissipation of a centralprocess unit (CPU) of a computer, for example, is always worth studying.To prevent a CPU from overheating which will make the computer breakdown temporarily or permanently, the computer need sufficientheat-dissipation capability to make the CPU work normally. To remove theheat generated during high-speed operation and maintain the CPU at anormal status, in the conventional technology, a heat-dissipationapparatus is directly provided on the CPU or the chip generating heat.Thus, the heat generated by the CPU can be dissipated to the environmentquickly by the heat-dissipation apparatus.

FIG. 1A is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing a conventionalheat-dissipation apparatus provided on a heat source, while FIG. 1B isan exploded diagram showing the heat-dissipation apparatus and the heatsource shown in FIG. 1A. Refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B simultaneously. Aconventional heat-dissipation apparatus 100 is provided in a computer todissipate the heat generated by a heat source 10 such as a centralprocess unit (CPU). The above heat-dissipation apparatus 100 includes aretention module (RM) 110 provided around the heat source 10, a heatsink 120 and a clip module 130. The heat sink 120 is suitable to beprovided on the heat source 10 and dissipate the heat generated by theheat source 10, while the clip module 130 is suitable to be providedacross the heat sink 120 and press on the heat sink 120 so that the heatsink 120 can closely contact with the heat source 10. In this way, theheat inside the heat source 10 can be effectively transmitted to theheat sink 120 and then be transmitted to the outside by the heat sink120.

In the conventional technology, the clip module 130 includes a body 132provided across the heat sink 120, a fastener 134, and a cam pressingstructure 136. The body 132 is suitable to press on the heat sink 120 tomake the heat sink 120 closely contact with the heat source 10. One endof the body 132 is fastened on one tenon 112 of the RM 110, and theother end of the body 132 is assembled on the fastener 134. The fastener134 is suitable to be fastened on the other tenon 114 of the RM 110.Moreover, the cam pressing structure 136 is pivotally connected to thefastener 134 via the pin 138. The cam pressing structure 136 can rotatealong the pivot direction L (X axis) of the pin 138 to press on the body132.

The material of the cam pressing structure 136 is plastic which isexpensive. Therefore, the conventional clip module 130 has a highproduct cost. Moreover, since the cam pressing structure 136 rotatesalong the pivot direction L (X axis) of the pin 138 to press on the body132, when the heat sink 120 is assembled to the heat source 10,sufficient space around the heat sink 120 should be given for the campressing structure 136 to rotate so that the heat sink 120 can beassembled to the heat source 10 successfully. However, in the computer,the space around the heat sink 120 is limited. (Electronic elements suchas memory modules, various cards may be provided around the heat sink120.) Therefore, when the heat sink 120 is assembled to the heat source10, the cam pressing structure 136 pivotally connected to the fastener134 interferes with the electronic elements around the heat sink 120easily because of the room limitation. Thus, the heat sink cannot beassembled to the heat source 10 easily.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of the invention is to provide a clip module andheat-dissipation apparatus having the same to provide a clip module witha low cost.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a clip module andheat-dissipation apparatus having the same. The clip module can assemblethe heat sink to the heat source successfully and will not interferewith electronic elements around the heat sink easily.

To obtain the above or other objectives, the invention provides a clipmodule suitable to cooperate with a retention module (RM) to assemblethe heat sink to the heat source, wherein the RM has a first fasteningpart and a second fastening part. The clip module of the inventionincludes a body, a fastener, and a pressing structure. The body has afirst retaining part, a third fastening part and a first connectingpart. The first retaining part is suitable to press the heat sink on theheat source, and the third fastening part at one end of the firstretaining part is suitable to be fastened on the first fastening part,while the first connecting part is at the other end of the firstretaining part. Moreover, the fastener has a second connecting part, apivot, a fixing part and a fourth fastening part. The first connectingpart is assembled with the second connecting part; the pivot and thefixing part are provided on the two sides of the second connecting part,respectively; the fourth fastening part is suitable to be fastened onthe second fastening part. The pressing structure is pivotally connectedto the pivot along a rotating axis and suitable to rotate along therotating axis to be fastened on the fixing part to press on the body.

In one embodiment of the invention, the pressing structure includes athird connecting part pivotally connected to the pivot along therotating axis and a pressing part suitable to rotate along the rotatingaxis to fasten on the fixing part.

In one embodiment of the invention, the pressing structure furtherincludes a second retaining part provided between the third connectingpart and the pressing part and suitable to press on the body.

In one embodiment of the invention, the body, fastener and pressingstructure are sheet metal parts.

In one embodiment of the invention, the second connecting part has alimiting structure to limit the operation range of the first connectingpart.

The invention further provides a heat-dissipation apparatus which issuitable to dissipate the heat for a heat source on a circuit board. Theheat-dissipation apparatus of the invention includes a RM, a heat sinkand the above clip module, wherein the RM is provided on the circuitboard and around the heat source, and the RM has a first fastening partand a second fastening part. Moreover, the heat sink is provided on theheat source, while the clip module is provided across the heat sink andfastened on the RM.

In the heat-dissipation apparatus of the invention, the components (thebody, fastener and pressing structure) of clip module of the inventionare, for example, sheet metal parts with simple structure. Therefore,the clip module of the invention has a low product cost. Moreover, sincethe components (the body, fastener and pressing structure) of the clipmodule are sheet metal parts with simple structure, the clip module hasan advantage of being assembled easily. On the other hand, in order toassemble the heat sink on the heat source successfully, the pivotdirection of the pressing structure of the invention is parallel to thedirection of the axis of symmetry of body. Therefore, the pressingstructure pivotally connected to the fastener will not interfere withthe electronic elements around the heat sink because of the spacelimitation. In other words, the clip module of the invention can fix theheat sink on the heat source successfully.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing a conventionalheat-dissipation apparatus provided on a heat source.

FIG. 1B is an exploded diagram showing the heat-dissipation apparatusand heat source shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing aheat-dissipation apparatus provided on a heat source according to apreferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is an exploded diagram showing the heat-dissipation apparatusand heat source shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is an exploded diagram showing the clip module shown in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 4A is a front view showing the heat-dissipation apparatus providedon the heat source shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4B is a side view showing the heat-dissipation apparatus shown inFIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a front view showing clip module shown in FIG. 4A fastened onthe retention module (RM).

FIG. 5B is a side view showing the heat-dissipation apparatus shown inFIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2A is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing aheat-dissipation apparatus provided on a heat source in a preferredembodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2B is an exploded diagram showingthe heat-dissipation apparatus and the heat source shown in FIG. 2A.Refer to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B simultaneously. A heat-dissipationstructure 200 in the embodiment is suitable to dissipate the heatgenerated by the source 22 on a circuit board 20. The heat-dissipationstructure 200 includes a retention module (RM) 210, a heat sink 220provided on a heat source 22, and a clip module 230. In the embodiment,utilizing the lever principle, the clip module 230 can fasten the heatsink 220 on the heat source 22 steadily. The detail process concerninghow to fasten the heat sink 220 on the heat source 22 by the clip module230 in the embodiment will be described hereinbelow.

In the embodiment, the RM 210 is provided on the circuit board 20 andaround the heat source 22, and the RM 210 has a first fastening part 212and a second fastening part 214. Moreover, the heat sink 220 is, forexample, an extrusion heat sink or other proper types of heat sink,while the clip module 230 is provided across the heat sink 220 andfastened on the first fastening part 212 and the second fastening part214 of the RM 210. The structure of the clip module 230 will bedescribed in detail hereinbelow.

FIG. 3 is an exploded diagram showing the clip module shown in FIG. 2B.Refer to FIG. 2B and FIG. 3 simultaneously. The clip module 230 in theembodiment includes a body 232, a fastener 234 and a pressing structure236. In the embodiment, the body 232, the fastener 234 and the pressingstructure 236 can be sheet metal parts with simple structure. The abovebody 232 has a first retaining part 232 a, a third fastening part 232 bon one end of the first retaining part 232 a, and a first connectingpart 232 c on the other end of the first retaining part 232 a. In theembodiment, the heat sink 220 has, for example, a groove 220 a, and thefirst retaining part 232 a of the body 232 is suitable to pass throughthe groove 220 a of the heat sink 220 and press on the heat sink 220,while the third fastening part 232 b is suitable to be fastened on thefirst fastening part 212 of the RM 210.

Follow the above. The fastener 234 according to the embodiment has asecond connecting part 234 a, a pivot 234 b, a fixing part 234 c and afourth fastening part 234 d, and the fastener 234 connects to the firstconnecting part 232 c via the second connecting part 234 a to beactively assembled on the body 232. In the embodiment, a limitingstructure 234 a′ can be provided on the second connecting part 234 a.The limiting structure 234 a′ can limit the operation range of the firstconnecting part 232 c so that the first connecting part can be connectedto the second connecting part 234 a steadily. Moreover, the pivot 234 band the fixing part 234 c are provided on the two sides of secondconnecting part 234 a, respectively, and the fourth fastening part 234 dis suitable to be fastened on the second fastening part 214. In theembodiment, the first fastening part 212 and second fastening part 214have a hook, respectively, while the third fastening part 232 b and thefourth fastening part 234 d have a hole, respectively. Therefore, thethird fastening part 232 b can be fastened on the first fastening part212, and the fourth fastening part 234 d can be fastened on the secondfastening part 214. Certainly, in other embodiments, the first fasteningpart 212 and the second fastening part 214 may have a hole,respectively, while the third fastening part 232 b and the fourthfastening part 234 d may have a hook, respectively. There is nolimitation herein.

Moreover, in the embodiment, the pressing structure 236 is, for example,pivotally connected to the pivot 234 b along the rotating axis Rparallel to the direction of the groove 220 a of the heat sink 220, andthe pressing structure 236 is suitable to rotate along the rotating axisR to be fastened on the fixing part 234 c of the fastener 234, and thenpress on the body 232.

In detail, in the embodiment, the pressing structure 236 includes, forexample, a third connecting part 236 a and a pressing part 236 b. Thethird connecting part 236 a, for example, rivets to the pivot 234 balong the rotating axis R. When users want to assemble the heat sink 220on the heat source 22, they can rotate the pressing part 236 b by usingthe pivot 234 b on one side of the second connecting part 234 a as therotating center, and fasten the pressing part on the fixing part 234 con another side of the second connecting part 234 a, so that the secondretaining part 236 c between the third connecting part 236 a and thepressing part 236 b can press on the body 232 assembled in the secondconnecting part 234 a. Consequently, the heat sink 220 will be pressedby the body 232 and then assembled on the heat source 22 steadily.

The above describes the connecting relationship between the componentsof the clip module 230, RM 210 and heat sink 220. How to fasten the clipmodule 230 on the RM 210 to fix the heat sink 220 on the heat source 22will be described hereinbelow.

FIG. 4A is a front view diagram showing the heat-dissipation apparatusprovided in the heat source in FIG. 2A, while FIG. 4B is side viewdiagram showing the heat-dissipation apparatus shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5Ais a front view diagram showing the clip module shown in FIG. 4Afastened on the RM, while FIG. 5B is a side view diagram showing theheat-dissipation apparatus shown in FIG. 5A. Refer to FIG. 4A and FIG.4B first, when users want to fix the heat sink 220 on the heat source 22on the circuit board 20, they can fasten the third fastening part 232 bof the body 232 on the first fastening part 212 of the RM 210, and thenfasten the fourth fastening part 234 d of the fastener 234 on the secondfastening part 214 of the RM 210. In this way, the first retaining part232 a of the body 232 can preliminary press on the heat sink 220.

Next, refer to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B. Users can rotate the pressing part236 b by using the pivot 234 b as the rotating center, and make thesecond retaining part 236 c between the third connecting part 236 a andthe pressing part 236 b press on the first connecting part 232 c of thebody 232. In detail, since the first retaining part 232 a of the body232 presses on the heat sink 220, and the fourth fastening part 234 d ofthe fastener 234 is fastened on the second fastening part 214 of the RM210, when the second retaining part 236 c presses on the firstconnecting part 232 c of the body 232, the first connecting part 232 cof the body 232 will be pressed down so that the first retaining part232 a will press the heat sink 220, and then heat sink 220 can beassembled in the heat source 22 steadily.

After users press the pressing structure 236 to press down the body 232,in the embodiment, the pressing part 236 b of the pressing structure 236can be fastened on the fixing part 234 c of the fastener 234, whereinthe fixing part 234 c can effectively overcome the reacting force givenby the heat sink 220 to the body 232 so that the pressing part 236 b canbe fastened in a predetermined location. In this way, the secondretaining part 236 c of the pressing structure 236 can continuouslypress on the body 232 so that the heat sink 220 can be assembled on theheat source 22 steadily.

In the embodiment, since the third fastening part 232 b and the fourthfastening part 234 d are fastened on the first fastening part 212 andthe second fastening part 214 of the RM 210, respectively, and the body232 of the clip module 230 can press on the heat sink 220, the heat sink220 can be provided on the heat source 22 steadily.

To sum up, in the heat-dissipation apparatus in the embodiment of theinvention, the clip module is provided across the heat sink and fastenedon the RM, so that the heat sink can be provided in the heat sourcesteadily to dissipate the heat for the heat source. The components(body, fastener and the pressing structure) of the clip module are, forexample, sheet metal parts with simple structure. Therefore, the clipmodule of the invention has a low product cost. On the other hand, sincethe components (body, fastener and the pressing structure) of the clipmodule are, for example, sheet metal parts with simple structure, theclip module of the invention has an advantage of being assembled easily.That is, the clip module is suitable to be produced in mass with apreferred assembling efficiency.

Moreover, in order to make the heat sink provided on the heat sourcesuccessfully, the pivot direction of the pressing structure is parallelto the direction of the axis of symmetry of the body in the invention.In this way, the pressing structure pivotally connected to the fastenerwill not interfere with the electronic elements around the heat sinkbecause of the room limitation when rotating. In other words, the clipmodule in the invention can be fastened on the heat sink successfully.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, the disclosureis not for limiting the scope of the invention. Persons having ordinaryskill in the art may make various modifications and changes withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, thescope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description ofthe preferred embodiments described above.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clip module suitable to cooperate with aretention module to fasten a heat sink on a heat source, wherein theretention module has a first fastening part and a second fastening part,the clip module comprising: a body comprising a first retaining part, athird fastening part and a first connecting part, wherein the firstretaining part is suitable to press the heat sink on the heat source,the third fastening part providing at one end of the first retainingpart and is suitable to fasten the first fastening part, and the firstconnecting part providing at the other end of the first retaining part;a fastener comprising a second connecting part, a pivot, a fixing partand a fourth fastening part, wherein the first connecting partassembling at the second connecting part, the pivot and the fixing partare providing at two sides of the second connecting part, respectively,and the fourth fastening part is suitable to fasten the second fasteningpart; and a pressing structure pivotally connecting the pivot along arotating axis and is suitable to rotate along the rotating axis tofasten at the fixing part, thus to press the body.
 2. The clip moduleaccording to claim 1, wherein the pressing structure comprises a thirdconnecting part pivotally connected to the pivot along the rotating axisand a pressing part being suitable to rotate along the rotating axis tobe fastened on the fixing part.
 3. The clip module according to claim 2,wherein the pressing structure further comprises a second retaining partprovided between the third connecting part and the pressing part andbeing suitable to press the body.
 4. The clip module according to claim1, wherein the body, the fastener and the pressing structure are sheetmetal parts.
 5. The clip module according to claim 1, wherein the secondconnecting part has a limiting structure to limit the operation range ofthe first connecting part.
 6. The clip module according to claim 1,wherein the rotating axis is parallel to the direction of a groove ofthe heat sink.
 7. A heat-dissipation apparatus suitable to dissipateheat generated by a heat source on a circuit board, the heat-dissipationapparatus comprising: a retention module provided on the circuit boardand around the heat source, wherein the retention module has a firstfastening part and a second fastening part; a heat sink provided on theheat source; and a clip module provided across the heat sink andfastened on the retention module, the clip module comprising: a bodycomprising a first retaining part, a third fastening part and a firstconnecting part, wherein the first retaining part is suitable to pressthe heat sink on the heat source, the third fastening part is providedat one end of the first retaining part and suitable to be fastened atthe first fastening part, and the first connecting part is provided atthe other end of the first retaining part; a fastener comprising asecond connecting part, a pivot, a fixing part and a fourth fasteningpart, wherein the first connecting part is assembled at the secondconnecting part, the pivot and the fixing part are provided at the twosides of the second connecting part, respectively, and the fourthfastening part is suitable to be fastened at the second fastening part;and a pressing structure pivotally connected to the pivot along arotating axis and suitable to rotate along the rotating axis to befastened at the fixing part and then press the body.
 8. Theheat-dissipation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pressingstructure comprises a third connecting part pivotally connected to thepivot along the rotating axis and a pressing part being suitable torotate along the rotating axis to be fastened at the fixing part.
 9. Theheat-dissipation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the pressingstructure further comprises a second retaining part provided between thethird connecting part and the pressing part and being suitable to presson the body.
 10. The heat-dissipation apparatus according to claim 7,wherein the body, the fastener and the pressing structure are sheetmetal parts.
 11. The heat-dissipation apparatus according to claim 7,wherein the second connecting part has a limiting structure to limit theoperation range of the first connecting part.
 12. The heat-dissipationapparatus according to claim 7, wherein the rotating axis is parallel tothe direction of a groove of the heat sink.